Sanitary toothbrush holder

ABSTRACT

A sanitary toothbrush holder intended for holding a plurality of toothbrushes in a container completely enclosing the toothbrushes and providing a dehydrating and sanitizing atmosphere therein along with air circulation therethrough for drying the toothbrushes and holding the same in a sanitary manner, the container adapted to be mounted on a vertical surface, such as a wall, with the handle ends of the toothbrushes received in toothbrush holding recesses formed in the interior bottom of the container, the top of the container being open and adapted to be closed by a swinging horizontal cover having a compartment defined therein which is in communication with the interior of the container and which is intended to hold a plurality of sanitizing and dehydrating pellets which provide the desired atmosphere to the container interior.

United States Patent 1 Sloan 1 May 20, 1975 1 1 SANITARY TOOTHBRUSHHOLDER [22] Filed: Aug. 24, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 391,223

[52] US. Cl. 21/83; 206/209; 312/206 [51] Int. Cl. A611 3/00; A46b 17/00[58] Field of Search 21/83, 84, 88; 3l2/31.l, 312/312, 206, 31; 206/209;220/23; 248/205 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 268,58812/1882 Woodbury et a1. 312/31.2 X 1,283,052 10/1918 Berkstresser312/31.2 2,058,800 10/1936 Jasper 312/31 2,280,431 4/1942 Hart A 21/83 X2,541,525 2/1951 Lewyt 312/31.1 X 3,367,610 2/1968 Lindquist.... 248/205A X 3,741,378 6/1973 Parker 206/209 3,794,181 2/1974 Canham 248/205 A XPrimary Examiner.loseph Scovronek Assistant E.raminerArnold-TurkAttorney, Agent, or FirmMarden S. Gordon [57] ABSTRACT A sanitarytoothbrush holder intended for holding a plurality of toothbrushes in acontainer completely enclosing the toothbrushes and providing adehydrating and sanitizing atmosphere therein along with air circulationtherethrough for drying the toothbrushes and holding the same in asanitary manner, the container adapted to be mounted on a verticalsurface, such as a wall, with the handle ends of the toothbrushesreceived in toothbrush holding recesses formed in the interior bottom ofthe container, the top of the container being open and adapted to beclosed by a swinging horizontal cover having a compartment definedtherein which is in communication with the interior of the'container andwhich is intended to hold a plurality of sanitizing and dehydratingpellets which provide the desired atmosphere to the container intenor.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SANITARY TOOTI-IBRUSI-I HOLDER BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generallyto toothbrush holders and more particularly to a novel and improvedtoothbrush holder having a container for storing toothbrushes betweenuses and which provides an atmosphere therein of a sterilizing anddehydrating nature, the compartment being substantially closed to thesurrounding atmosphere to prevent dirt and the like from contacting thebrushes while in the container.

2. Description of the Prior Art For storing and holding toothbrushesbetween times of using the same there are presently two general classesof forms of toothbrush holders available to the individual. The firstclass of forms comprises those devices where the toothbrushes aresuspended or in some way supported in the open air which, while allowingfor the proper drying of the toothbrush, also allows the toothbrushes tobe contaminated by dirt, dust and other contaminants in the atmosphereso that the toothbrushes are dried and stored in an unsanitary manner.In the other class of storage devices the toothbrushes are suspended orrested in a container or holder which is closed to the atmosphere thuskeeping the tooth brushes free from contamination, but such devicessuffer the problem of not providing sufficient circulation of air aboutthe toothbrush to dry the same so that the toothbrush soon becomes fouland unsanitary.

While attempts have been made in the prior art to overcome such problemsencountered by the two classes of storage devices for toothbrushes, suchas by providing powered circulatory means within a closed container andpassing the air through chemical substances for drying the same, all ofsuch devices are either complex in structure, expensive to manufacture,bulky and aesthetically displeasing, require constant maintenance on thepart of the individual utilizing the same, or suffer other problems anddifficulties in attempting to provide a satisfactory solution of theproblem of storing toothbrushes in a sanitary manner while stillpermitting the adequate drying of the same so that the toothbrushes donot become foul.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention remedies and overcomesall of the foregoing deficiencies and disadvantages of presentlyavailable toothbrush storage and holding devices by providing a novelsanitary toothbrush holder intended for separately holding a pluralityof toothbrushes in a vertical position in a container with the containerprotecting such toothbrushes from dust and contaminants in theatmosphere while providing a sanitizing and dehydrating atmospherewithin the container for the proper drying of the toothbrushes in asanitary manner.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a sanitarytoothbrush holder for holding a plurality of toothbrushes in asanitizing and dehydrating atmosphere while still permitting thetoothbrushes to be readily selectively and individually removed from thecontainer and replaced into the container without disturbing orcontacting the other toothbrushes therein.

A further feature of the present invention provides a toothbrushcontainer intended for holding a plurality of toothbrushes in a separatemanner therein and in which a compartment is provided for the placing ofsanitizing and dehydrating pellets with'the fumes thereof being incommunication with the container and with such compartment beingaccessible from exterior of the container for inserting and removingpellets thereinto without having to open the container.

Still a further feature of the present invention provides a toothbrushholding container wherein the toothbrushes are held in verticalpositions separate from each other so that they will readily dry in aprotected manner.

Still a further feature of the present invention provides a toothbrushholder for retaining a plurality of toothbrushes in an atmospheregenerally free from bacteria and viruses which exist in the air, andpermitting the toothbrushes to dry in a sanitizing atmosphere.

The provision of a toothbrush holding container for a plurality oftoothbrushes, such as briefly outlined above, and possessing the statedadvantages, constitutes the principal features of the present invention.The provision of a toothbrush holder which is relatively simple in itsconstruction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at arelatively low cost and by simple manufacturing methods; one which isdevoid of moving parts and which therefore is unlikely to get out oforder; one which is durably constructed and which therefore may beguaranteed by the manfacturer to withstand many years of intended usage;one which is aesthetically pleasing and refined in appearance; one whichholds a plurality of toothbrushes in a compact manner requiring aminimum of mounting space for the holder; and one which, otherwise, iswell adapted to perform the services required of it, are furtherdesirable features which have been borne in mind in the production anddevelopment of the present invention.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, and in which like reference characters areemployed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is front perspective view of a sanitary toothbrush holderconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the toothbrush holder mounted on avertical supporting surface;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the toothbrush holder of FIG. 2;and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the toothbrushholder, with the cover partially broken away to show the interior of thecontainer,

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingsthere is disclosed a sanitary toothbrush holder constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention and which isdesignated generally by the reference numeral 10, the holder beingcomprised of an open top container 11 having a cover 12 with acompartment 13 disposed centrally thereof for holding a plurality ofsanitizing and dehydrating pellets 14 therein. The holder 10 may bemanufactured out of metal, wood, hard rubber, plastic, or any othersuitable satisfactory material providing an aesthetically pleasing andrefined appearance. The preferred embodiment is fabricated of a highdensity polyethylene plastic to provide either a transparent toothbrushholder, or by introducing appropriate coloring dyes into the plasticprior to the fabrication of the holder, the holder may be provided in avariety of dif ferent colors attractive to the prospective purchaservThe container 11 is of a hollow box-like shape having a horizontalbottom wall surface 21, opposed vertically extending side walls 22 and23, a vertical front wall surface 24, and a vertical back wall surface25, the walls defining therebetween interiorly thereof an elongatedrectangular compartment 26 of suitable depth and width to hold therein aplurality of toothbrushes 15 each having a brush head portion 16 with anelongated shank 17 extending therefrom with the opposite end defining ahandle end portion 18. Each of the wall surfaces 22-25 terminates at topperipheral edges 32-35 respectively with such edges lying substantiallycoplanar to define a horizontal plane extending parallel to the bottomsurface 21 and spaced a distance upwardly I therefrom greater than thelength of a normal toothbrush 15.

Disposed centrally of the interior surface of the bottom wall surface 21and extending therealong in a spaced apart manner is a plurality of bossmembers 40 each having a rectangular horizontal cross-section andprojecting normal to the bottom surface, each boss member having a tophorizontal surface 41 with a recess 42 defined interiorly of the bossand opening upwardly and outwardly of the top surface 41, the recessesbeing shown in the drawings as rectangular in shape with it beingunderstood that such recesses may be of any size and configurationadapted to supportively receive therein the handle end portion 18 of atoothbrush 15 in a manner retaining the toothbrush supported therein andprojecting substantially vertically therefrom. The boss members 40 andrecesses 42 are disposed a sufficient distance apart and constructed ina manner to retain the toothbrushes stored separately from each otherwith the bristles of the brush head 16 spaced apart from the bristles ofall other toothbrushes to permit air flow thereabout for drying the samein a sanitary manner.

For mounting the container 11 to a vertical surface, such as a wall ordoor 45 there is provided a pair of adhesive strips 46 mounted on theexterior surface of the back wall surface and extending along the bottomand top edges thereof, such strips provided with an adhesive material onthe exterior surface thereof adapted to firmly adhesively grip thevertical surface upon the strip being placed in adjacent juxtapositiontherewith so as to mount the container 11 to such surface.

The cover 12 is substantially flat and is of a size and configuration tocompletely close the top opening of the compartment 26 in a manner toclose the container 11, the cover including a front edge 54, a back edge55, opposed end edges 52 and 53, an exterior surface 56, and an interiorsurface 57. The cover is of a rectangular configuration adapted tooverlap the container 11 to close the compartment 26 with edges 5255overlapping container wall surface peripheral top edges 32-35respectively.

The cover is hingedly connected at the corner portion interconnectingedges 52 and 55 by a suitable hinge 60 to the container side wall 22adjacent the top corner thereof nearest the back surface 25 for swingingpivotal movement thereabout in a horizontal plane in the direction ofarrows 58 to open and close the container.

Disposed centrally of the cover 12 and projecting downwardly andoutwardly therefrom is the compartment 13 formed integrally with thecover, the compartment being of a hemi-spherical shape and having aplurality of openings 62 extending therethrough placing the interior ofthe cover compartment into communication with the interior of thecontainer compartment 26. To close the cover compartment 13 there isprovided a circular cover 63 having a lip 64 projecting diametricallyfrom one edge thereof and which is adapted to be snugly received in theopen top of the compartment 13 with the lip received in a complementaryrecess 65 formed in the cover 12 such that when in position the cover 63lies co-planar with the cover 12 to seal the top of the compartment 13.

The compartment 13 is of a size and configuration adapted to receivetherein a plurality of sanitizing pellets 14 which may be manufacturedof materials having excellent hygroscopic characteristics to absorbmoisture from the atmosphere, such as calcium chloride, silica gel, andthe like, with such pellets being treated with an anti-bacterialsanitizing substance such that the fumes provided from the pellets wouldpass through openings 62 into container compartment 26 to provide adehydrating and sanitizing atmosphere to the toothbrushes 15 within thecontainer for drying the same in a sanitary manner.

To permit air circulation through the compartment 26 when the cover 12is in the closed position, the cover is provide with a plurality of airvents 66 extending therethrough with the container front wall surface 24being similarly provided with a plurality of air vents 67 disposed alongthe bottom edge thereof adjacent bottom surface 21 and extendingtherethrough, such vents being of a size and configuration and disposedin the relative surfaces to provide an air flow through the compartment26 while still protecting the brushes 15 therein from dust, dirt andother air borne contaminants as the air flow therethrough would be of asmooth continuous motion where such contaminants would have already beendropped from the air due to the exceptionally slow motion thereofthrough the container.

Further, it is to be understood that the hinge 60 permits for the slightupward tilting of the cover 12 relative to the top edges of thecontainer wall surfaces as the cover is swung between the open andclosed position so as to permit the downward projecting compartment 13to pass over the container wall edges.

In operation, the container 11 is either secured to a vertical surface45 by adhesive strips 46, or is rested on a horizontal surface in asuitable manner on bottom surface 21, a supply of pellets 14 areinserted into compartment 13 with the compartment then being sealed bycover 63, with the individual toothbrushes 15 then being inserted intothe compartment 26 with the handle end portions 18 engaged in associatedseparate recesses 42. The cover 12 is then placed in the closed positionwith the toothbrushes now being completely closed within the containerand subjected to the dehydrating and sanitizing fumes from the pelletsproviding a drying and sanitizing atmosphere within the container whilepermitting a smooth continuous air flow through the air vents 66 and 67,such as designated by arrows 70, such air flow being treated by thefumes from the pellets to maintain the desired atmosphere within thecontainer. To remove a toothbrush from the container, the cover 12 ispivoted about hinge 60 to expose the top of the compartment 26, thedesired toothbrush is removed therefrom, with the cover then beingclosed until further storage of the toothbrush is required.

There is thus provided a novel toothbrush holding container permitting aplurality of toothbrushes to be separately stored between usages in amanner protected from atmospheric dirt, dust and other contaminantswhile permitting air flow thereabout to properly dry the toothbrushesafter use, such air flow being of a sanitizing nature so as to bothsanitize and dry the toothbrushes, after which the sanitary atmospherewithin the container retains the sanitary condition of the toothbrushuntil further use thereof.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shownand described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, andthat this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement ofparts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in thisspecification as various changes in the details of construction as toshape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novelconcepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed l. A toothbrushholder intended for the holding of a plurality of toothbrushes in asanitary manner, the holder comprising, in combination:

a hollow box-like rectangularly shaped container including a horizontalbottom surface. opposed parallel vertical side wall surfaces, a frontvertical wall surface, and a back vertical wall surface, said wallsurfaces depending upwardly from the peripheral edges of said bottomsurface and equal vertical distance with each of said wall surfacesterminating at the top thereof in a horizontally extending top edgeportion. said top edge portion of said wall surfaces being co-planarwith each other and definging a horizontal plane extending parallel tothe container bottom surface and spaced vertically upwardly therefrom adistance greater than the length of a conventional toothbrush to be heldin said container;

a compartment defined interiorly of said container surfaces extendingupwardly from the interior of said bottom surface and opening out of thetop of said container between said top edges of said side wall surfaces;1

a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart and aligned rectangularlyelongated air vent slots extending horizontally at spaced intervals insaid container front wall surface adjacent said bottom surface;

a plurality of rectangularly shaped boss members longitudinally alignedand spaced apart and extending along the longitudinal midline of theinterior surface of the bottom surface of said container intermediatesaid side wall surfaces thereof, each boss member projecting verticallyupwardly an equal distance from said container bottom surface andterminating in a horizontally extending top surface;

a plurality of vertically extending rectangularly crosssection recesses,each recess disposed in one of said boss members centrally thereof andprojecting 6 vertically upwardly therethrough and opening out of saidtop surface thereof;

each of said recesses adapted to receive therein the handle end portionof a toothbrush inserted axially thereinto in a manner to supportedlyretain the toothbrush in a vertical position projecting outwardly of therecess and into said container compartment;

said recesses of said boss members being spaced longitudinally apartalong said bottom surface midline a sufficient distance to assure nopossibility of contact between adjacently supported toothbrushes; I

a flat rectangularly shaped cover member of a size and shape tocompletely close the open top end of said container compartment, thecover member having a flat top surface, a flat bottom surface, opposedparallel side edges, and opposed parallel back and front edges; I

said cover being of an area configuration such that the edges of saidcover member overlap the respective top peripheral edges of theassociated container side, front and back wall surfaces;

a vertical pin interconnecting a single corner of said cover definedbetween a side edge and a back edge thereof to a corner of saidcontainer at a top edge thereof wherein said container corner is definedas a corner between said vertical back wall surface and one of said sidewall surfaces, said pin forming a hinge providing for swingable movementthereabout of said cover in a substantially horizontal plane between aclosed position wherein the cover closes the top end of said containerwith associated cover edges overlapping and resting on associatedcontainer top edges, and an open position wherein said back edge of saidcover is disposed adjacentmost to a side wall top edge of said containerwith said cover extending outwardly of said adjacentmost side wall andsubstantially parallel to said container bottom surface;

said hinge pin permitting a slight vertical canting of the main portionof said cover thereabout to provide required clearance of said coverover the top edges of said container wall surfaces when said cover isswung between said open and said closed positions about said hinge pin;

said cover providing selective ingress and egress of said containercompartment;

a compartment formed integrally with said cover centrally thereof andprojecting downwardly therefrom out of the bottom surface thereof, thecover compartment being of an inverted hemi-spherical shaped having thebase thereof opening outwardly of said top surface of said cover;

said opening being of a circular cross-sectional configuration;

a plurality of small diameter apertures disposed in spaced apartpositions completely over said wall surfaces of said cover compartmentto place the interior of said cover compartment in communication withthe interior of said container compartment when said cover is in theclosed position;

a closure cover of a circular diameter complementary to the diameter ofsaid base opening of said cover compartment hingedly connected to saidcover for movement between a closed position lying substantiallyco-planar with said cover in said 7 opening and sealing said covercompartment, and an open position apart from said cover compartmentopening to permit ready ingress thereinto and ready egress thereoutof;

a pair of transversely spaced apart longitudinally extending slotsproviding air vents in said cover member, each row of slots disposedadjacent one of the side edges of said cover member and extendinglongitudinally therealong and spaced slightly inwardly therefrom withthe slots being spaced apart from each other, the slots being of anelongated rectangular configuration; I

said cover compartment being of a sufficient size to loosely receivetherein a plurality of sterilizing and dehydrating pellets of a sizepreventing the same from passing through said cover compartmentapertures and with the fumes therefrom passing freely through said covercompartment apertures to communicate with the interior of said containercompartment when said cover member is in the closed position;

said slot forming air vents in said cover member providing with saidslot forming air vents in said container front wall surface a smoothslow constant air flow through the container compartment, this air flowmixing with the fumes from the pellet in the cover compartment toprovide a sanitizing and dehydrating atmosphere within said containercompartment about said toothbrushes'stored therein;

a pair of elongated flat rectangular strips spaced vertically apart andextending horizontally across the top and bottom edges respectivelyofsaid container back wall surface between opposite side edges thereof;and

a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on the exterior surfaceof each of said strips to adhesively grip a vertical surface placed injuxtaposition therewith, such as a wall, door and the like, in a mannerto support said container thereon.

2. A toothbrush holder as set forth in claim 1 further characterized bysaid container and said cover member being manufactured of a highdensity polyethylene plastic material.

1. A TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER INTENDED FOR THE HOLDING OF A PLURALITY OFTOOTHBRUSHES IN A SANITARY MANNER, THE HOLDER COMPRISING, INCOMBINATION: A HOLLOW BOX-LIKE RECTANGULARLY SHAPED CONTAINER INCLUDINGA HORIZONTAL BOTTOM SURFACE, OPPOSED PARALLEL VERTICAL SIDE WALLSURFACES, A FRONT VERTICAL WALL SURFACE, AND A BACK VERTICAL WALLSURFACE, SAID WALL SURFACES DEPENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE PERIPHERAL EDGESOF SAID BOTTOM SURFACE AND EQUAL VERTICAL DISTANCE WITH EACH OF SAIDWALL SURFACES TERMINATING AT THE TOP THEREOF IN A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDINGTOP EDGE PORTION, SAID TOP EDGE PORTION OF SAID WALL SURFACES BEINGCO-PLANAR WITH EACH OTHER AND DEFINGING A HORIZONTAL PLANE EXTENDINGPARALLEL TO THE CONTAINER BOTTOM SURFACE AND SPACED VERTICALLY UPWARDLYTHEREFROM A DISTANCE GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF A CONVENTIONALTOOTHBRUSH TO BE HELD IN SAID CONTAINER; A COMPARTMENT DEFINEDINTERIORLY OF SAID CONTAINER SURFACES EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THEINTERIOR OF SAID BOTTOM SURFACE AND OPENING OUT OF THE TOP OF SAIDCONTAINER BETWEEN SAID TOP EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALL SURFACES; A PLURALITYOF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED APART AND ALIGNED RECTANGULARLY ELONGATED AIRVENTS SLOTS EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY AT SPACED INTERVALS IN SAID CONTAINERFRONT WALL SURFACE ADJACENT SAID BOTTOM SURFACE; A PLURALITY OFRECTANGULARLY SHAPED BOSS MEMBERS LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED AND SPACEDAPART AND EXTENDING ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL MIDLINE OF THE INTERIORSURFACE OF THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF SAID CONTAINER INTERMEDIATE SAID SIDEWALL SURFACES THEREOF, EACH BOSS MEMBER PROJECTING VERTICALLY UPWARDLYAN EQUAL DISTANCE FROM SAID CONTAINER BOTTOM SURFACE AND TERMINATING INA HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING TOP SURFACE; A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLYEXTENDING RECTANGULARLY CROSSSECTION RECESSES, EACH RECESS DISPOSED INONE OF SAID BOSS MEMBERS CENTRALLY THEREOF AND PROJECTING VERTICALLYUPWARDLY THERETHROUGH AND OPENING OUT OF SAID TOP SURFACE THEREOF; EACHOF SAID RECESSES ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THEREIN THE HANDLE END PORTION OF ATOOTHBRUSH INSERTED AXIALLY THEREINTO IN A MANNER TO SUPPORTEDLY RETAINTHE TOOTHBRUSH IN A VERTICAL POSITION PROJECTING OUTWARDLY OF THE RECESSAND INTO SAID CONTAINER COMPARTMENT; SAID RECESSES OF SAID BOSS MEMBERSBEING SPACED LONGITUDINALLY APART ALONG SAID BOTTOM SURFACE MIDLINE ASUFFICIENT DISTANCE TO ASSURE NO POSSIBILITY OF CONTACT BETWEENADJACENTLY SUPPORTED TOOTHBRUSHES; A FLAT RECTANGULARLY SHAPED COVERMEMBER OF A SIZE AND SHAPE TO COMPLETELY CLOSE THE OPEN TOP END OF SAIDCONTAINER COMPARTMENT, THE COVER MEMBER HAVING A FLAT TOP SURFACE, AFLAT BOTTOM SURFACE, OPPOSED PARALLEL SIDE EDGES, AND OPPOSED PARALLELBACK AND FRONT EDGES; SAID COVER BEING OF AN AREA CONFIGURATION SUCHTHAT THE EDGES OF SAID COVER MEMBER OVERLAP THE RESPECTIVE TOPPERIPHERAL EDGES OF THE ASSOCIATED CONTAINER SIDE, FRONT AND BACK WALLSURFACES; A VERTICAL PIN INTERCONNECTING A SINGLE CORNER OF SAID COVERDEFINED BETWEEN A SIDE EDGE AND A BACK EDGE THEREOF TO A CORNER OF SAIDCONTAINER AT A TOP EDGE THEREOF WHEREIN SAID CONTAINER CORNER IS DEFINEDAS A CORNER BETWEEN SAID VERTICAL BACK WALL SURFACE AND ONE OF SAID SIDEWALL SURFACES, SAID PIN FORMING A HINGE PROVIDING FOR SWINGABLE MOVEMENTTHEREABOUT OF SAID COVER IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE BETWEEN ACLOSED POSITION WHEREIN THE COVER CLOSES THE TOP END OF SAID CONTAINERWITH ASSOCIATED COVER EDGES OVERLAPPING AND RESTING ON ASSOCIATEDCONTAINER TOP EDGES, AND AN OPEN POSITION WHEREIN SAID BACK EDGE OF SAIDCOVER IS DISPOSED ADJACENTMOST TO A SIDE WALL TOP EDGE OF SAID CONTAINERWITH SAID COVER EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID ADJACENTMOST SIDE WALL ANDSUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID CONTAINER BOTTOM SURFACE; SAID HINGE PINPERMITTING A SLIGHT VERTICAL CANTING OF THE MAIN PORTION OF SAID COVERTHEREABOUT TO PROVIDE REQUIRED CLEARANCE OF SAID COVER OVER THE TOPEDGES OF SAID CONTAINER WALL ADJACENTMOST SIDE WALL, AND SUBSTANTIALLYSAID OPEN AND SAID CLOSED POSITIONS ABOUT SAID HINGE PIN; SAID COVERPROVIDING SELECTIVE INGRESS AND EGRESS OF SAID CONTAINER COMPARTMENT; ACOMPARTMENT FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH SAID COVER CENTRALLY THEREOF ANDPROJECTING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM OUT OF THE BOTTOM SURFACE THEREOF, THECOVER COMPARTMENT BEING OF AN INVERTED HEMI-SPHERICAL SHAPED HAVING THEBASE THEREOF OPENING OUTWARDLY OF SAID TOP SURFACE OF SAID COVER; SAIDOPENING BEING OF A CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION; A PLURALITYOF SMALL DIAMETER APERTURES DISPOSED IN SPACED APART POSITIONSCOMPLETELY OVER SAID WALL SURFACES OF SAID COVER COMPARTMENT TO PLACETHE INTERIOR OF SAID COVER COMPARTMENT IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEINTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER COMPARTMENT WHEN SAID COVER IS IN THE CLOSEDPOSITION; A CLOSURE COVER OF A CIRCULAR DIAMETER COMPLEMENTARY TO THEDIAMETER OF SAID BASE OPENING OF SAID COVER COMPARTMENT HINGEDLYCONNECTED TO SAID COVER FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION LYINGSUBSTANTIALLY CO-PLANAR WITH SAID COVER IN SAID OPENING AND SEALING SAIDCOVER COMPARTMENT, AND AN OPEN POSITION APART FROM SAID COVERCOMPARTMENT OPENING TO PERMIT READY INGRESS THEREINTO AND READY EGRESSTHEREOUTOF; A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED APART LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDINGSLOTS PROVIDING AIR VENTS IN SAID COVER MEMBER, EACH ROW OF SLOTSDISPOSED ADJACENT ONE OF THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID COVER MEMBER ANDEXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREALONG AND SPACED SLIGHTLY INWARDLYTHEREFROM WITH THE SLOTS BEING SPACED APART FROM EACH OTHER, THE SLOTSBEING OF AN ELONGATED RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION; SAID COVER COMPARTMENTBEING OF A SUFFICIENT SIZE TO LOOSELY RECEIVE THEREIN A PLURALITY OFSTERILIZING AND DEHYDRATING PELLETS OF A SIZE PREVENTING THE SAME FROMPASSING THROUGH SAID COVER COMPARTMENTS APERTURES AND WITH THE FUMESTHEREFROM PASSING FREELY THROUGH SAID COVER COMPARTMENT APERTURES TOCOMMUNICATE WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER COMPARTMENT WHEN SAIDCOVER MEMBER IS IN THE CLOSED POSITION; SAID SLOT FORMING AIR VENTS INSAID COVER MEMBER PROVIDING WITH SAID SLOT FORMING AIR VENTS IN SAIDCONTAINER FRONT WALL SURFACE A SMOOTH SLOW CONSTANT AIR FLOW THROUGH THECONTAINER COMPARTMENT, THIS AIR FLOW MIXING WITH THE FUMES FROM THEPELLET IN THE COVER COMPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A SANITIZING AND DEHYDRATINGATMOSPHERE WITHIN SAID CONTAINER COMPARTMENT ABOUT SAID TOOTHBRUSHESSTORED THEREIN; A PAIR OF ELONGATED FLAT RECTANGULAR STRIPS SPACEDVERTICALLY APART AND EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE TOP AND BOTTOMEDGES RESPECTIVELY OF SAID CONTAINER BACK WALL SURFACE BETWEEN OPPOSITESIDE EDGES THEREOF; AND A LAYER OF PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE DISPOSEDON THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF EACH OF SAID STRIPS TO ADHESIVELY GRIP AVERTICAL SURFACE PLACED IN JUXTAPOSITION THEREWITH, SUCH AS A WALL, DOORAND THE LIKE, IN A MANNER TO SUPPORT SAID CONTAINER THEREON.
 2. Atoothbrush holder as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by saidcontainer and said cover member being manufactured of a high densitypolyethylene plastic material.